Ruling BJP in Karnataka today wrested Chitapur (Reserved) Assembly seat and led in another, while JDS was ahead in two seats and Congress in one in the August 18 by—elections.
BJP candidate Valimiki Naik wrested the seat from Congress defeating Priyanka M Kharge, son of union labour minister Mallikarjuna Kharge, by a margin of 1,600 votes.
Mr. Naik avenged his defeat to senior Kharge in the last year assembly polls.
As per the latest trends, BJP was leading in Kollegal (Reserved) while JDS maintained a comfortable lead in Chennapatna and Ramanagara and Congress in Govindarajanagar.
Minister for Housing V Somanna, who deserted Congress to join BJP after resigning as MLA, is trailing by about 1,000 votes to his nearest Congress rival Priya Krishna in Govindarajanagar in Bangalore.
In Ramanagara, JDS candidate K Raju has established a comfortable lead of over 20,000 votes over his Congress rival C M Lingappa and his party colleague M C Ashwath was ahead of his nearest BJP rival and film actor C P Yogeshwar in Chennapatna by about 2,280 votes.
In Kollegal, B N Nanjundaswamy was leading, officials said.
Of the five seats for which bypolls were held, Congress had held four - Govindarajanagar, Kollegal, Chitapur and Chennapatna and JDS one - Ramanagara.
